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Alex McLeish: Nottingham Forest manager exits City Ground

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Alex McLeish

Nottingham Forest manager Alex McLeish has left the Championship club by mutual consent after 40 days in charge.

The 54-year-old Scot cited "a difference of understanding of the development strategy" at the club as the reason for his exit.

Chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi told the club website: "I'm bitterly disappointed - as is Alex - it has not worked out."

McLeish was appointed on 27 December but only won one game out of seven and lost four of those matches.

The Kuwaiti owners are now looking for their fourth manager since taking over in July.

McLeish was understood to be angered by the club's failure to sign players during the January transfer window and refused to commit his future to the club following Saturday's defeat against Birmingham City.

A deadline-day deal for Peterborough United's George Boyd fell through at the last minute when the midfielder failed an eye test, while to add insult to injury, another target Chris Burke scored both goals in Birmingham's win at St Andrew's.

In a statement issued by the League Managers Association McLeish said: "I am extremely saddened to be leaving after such a short period but even so it has been a privilege to be manager of such a fantastic football club.

"Both parties entered into the relationship in good faith, however, there was a difference in the understanding of the development strategy of the football club and it was felt by both parties that we should part company.

"I want to thank the players, staff and fans for their support and wish Nottingham Forest the best of fortunes ahead."

Al Hasawi, who last week issued a statement denying a rift with his manager, added: "I would like to put on record my thanks for his services and wish him every success in the future."

Forest have said they will not be making any further comment.

The Al Hasawi family sacked the then manager Steve Cotterill within days of assuming control in the summer.

They promised an iconic name as a replacement but after being linked with Glenn Hoddle and several other "big-name" managers, they appointed former Reds coach Sean O'Driscoll.

He guided a new-look Forest to a point outside the play-off places but was sacked on Boxing Day after an impressive 4-2 victory over Leeds United.

However under McLeish they have won just one of their six Championship matches, and are now in 11th place.

They are are six points adrift of Middlesbrough in sixth spot, having played a game more.

McLeish's side also suffered a shock home defeat against League One strugglers Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup.

Reds midfielder Andy Reid had said on Monday that he would be sad to see McLeish leave.

"Everyone is happy with how he is - an honest, straight manager," Reid said.

"For me, as a footballer, that is all that you want because that is how I feel I am as a player.

"I've enjoyed working with him since he has come in and it would be very, very disappointing if he did leave."

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673 comments

  • Comment posted by U14480037, at 11:21 5 Feb 2013

    The owners have reaped what they sow for getting rid of Sean O'Driscoll and then following it up with the spineless sackings of Burt, Arthur and Clark.

    Embarrassed to be a Forest fan but frankly we deserve this. We could have built slowly, invested in our youth squad and done things the right way but the owners have no interest in the long term stability of my great club.

    Laughing stock.

  • Comment posted by therams1, at 11:53 5 Feb 2013

    Im a Derby fan so not known for my love of forest but today my sympathies are with their supporters. Disgraceful how people with no knowledge of our game buy clubs and then run them as a joke with no respect for the fans.

  • Comment posted by U15223251, at 11:18 5 Feb 2013

    Disgraceful behaviour by the chairman of Forest. If you're going to take a manager on, then you have to give him time to mould the squad into his choosing. Fair play to Alex for sticking with his morals. The Boyd fiasco was an absolute farce, but as a Posh fan I'm glad to keep him!

  • Comment posted by Bielsa, at 12:16 5 Feb 2013

    Forest are begining to make Blackburn look a well run club

  • Comment posted by U4300706, at 11:31 5 Feb 2013

    I'm a Portsmouth Fan (oh dear...) and I have to say that I think the energy created by disgruntled fans at their club's owners can be a great force for good if directed in the right way. So many clubs are owned by very unpopular people making bad descions - Chelsea, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Forest, Cardiff, QPR. I really want to see fans do something about this, not just hound managers they dislike

  • Comment posted by waynebb, at 11:25 5 Feb 2013

    This is an absolute disgrace. I am not a great AM fan but no manager can put up with this nonsense. It makes the decision to get rid of Sean O'Driscoll even more insane. I agree wholeheartedly with 30, some of these people buying clubs don't seem to have the first idea of what they are doing. Feel sorry for Forest fans, great history, joining the ranks of Blackburn thanks to nonsense like this

  • Comment posted by HiggoJ, at 13:18 5 Feb 2013

    "a difference of understanding of the development strategy". Yep, Forest fancied winning a few games which AM clearly didn't understand.

  • Comment posted by U15039468, at 13:09 5 Feb 2013

    There is no reason to be found in this circus, the owners need to prove the value of their 'wealth' or has it all been lies?

    I fear this is only going to get worse.

    My sympathies to the fans.

  • Comment posted by U14277873, at 11:39 5 Feb 2013

    Myopia, in more ways than one !

  • Comment posted by Nutty Chimp, at 15:54 5 Feb 2013

    Sad to see such a great club being relentlessly dragged through the hedges like this, with no thanks to their dim-witted owners who know nothing about football. No club needs stability as much as Forest at the moment. Things could end up being a lot worse if things don't change soon.

  • Comment posted by U15545601, at 15:22 5 Feb 2013

    @91. Kristofferson

    You buffoon. My use of the term 'The Scottish Manager' is a reference to the famous Shakespeare play 'Macbeth', which actors refer to as ‘The Scottish Play’ in order to avoid reference to eponymous character due to long standing superstition that speaking his name will bring disaster. Much like McClueless did at Villa Park......

  • Comment posted by paulmac2k, at 13:24 5 Feb 2013

    McLeish's record is patchy at best. The team where he was supposedly the biggest success, Rangers, were close to sacking him in December 2005 as they were 15 points behind Celtic at that time. Instead, he announced he was leaving at the end of that season. He left Hibs to go to Rangers when they were in free-fall and did the same when he went from Motherwell to Hibs. He's an average manager.

  • Comment posted by Blues1875, at 16:52 5 Feb 2013

    Apart from winning league cup for Birmingham all Mcleish has done is bring clubs down the league,feel sorry for Notts Forest true Fans great club.

  • Comment posted by Alan Akbah, at 15:39 5 Feb 2013

    I wasn't thrilled by McLeish's appointment but it looks like the Chairman has stitched him up in this. Not good news for Forest if they want to be taken seriously in the transfer market or get a decent Manager in now. Forget promotion Fawaz, it's about staying in the top half now. Once again our season will be judged on the petty parochial interest of whether we finish ahead od Derby or not.

  • Comment posted by U15603643, at 15:39 5 Feb 2013

    4. posh22 £750,000?
    Not sure where you get your figures from! Although forest's handling of the Boyd affair may not have been reported unbiasedly thanks to your loud mouth owner, the non disclosure of on ongoing medical condition until the very last moment of the transfer window does leave a cloud of doubt over the integrity of your clubs handling of the boyd transfer!

  • Comment posted by U1579027, at 15:38 5 Feb 2013

    McLeish record over the last 40 days speaks for its self, one win! glad he has gone after not showing commitment to the club on saturday he should of been sacked that evening or sunday.

    Bring back Billy (shame it wont happen)

  • Comment posted by U1713294, at 15:12 5 Feb 2013

    @ 379 Major Tom - I specifically referred to his recent managerial history.

    If I was appointing a manager for Forest, I'd want someone who could cut it in the Premier League, not just the Championship so I could build continuity.

    Most Forest fans were deflated when McLeish was appointed (I know, I live in Nottingham).

    No green-tinted spectacles required are required to spot he's unsuitable.

  • Comment posted by U1713294, at 14:36 5 Feb 2013

    @ 345 Major Tom - My disdain for McLeish has more to do with the FACTS that his most recent track record show he's a poor manager.

    Erm... are you forgetting that he got Birmingham City relegated and then nearly succeeded in getting Villa relegated the season after that? Why Villa appointed him I'll never know. Why Forest didn't cop on that he'd be a disastrous appointment is another mystery.

  • Comment posted by U1866994, at 14:04 5 Feb 2013

    I'm in two minds. Either the new owners have massive ambition for the club and are looking for the absolute right manager, with McLeish and O'Driscoll simply not being good enough, or the Al-Hasawis just don't know what they're doing.

    The next managerial appointment will be crucial in answering that question. If this appointment fails, then I fear the worst for Forest.

    From a lifelong Forest fan

  • Comment posted by BoingJaimeBoing, at 13:34 5 Feb 2013

    All Forest fans can breath a small sigh of relief, they may still have a bunch of feckless cowboys in charge of the purse strings but at least the reigns are no longer being controlled an anti-football club killer.

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